You are here

Home » page action aggregate » Site Search

Site Search

 - resource provided by the Forum Network Knowledgebase.

Search Tip: Search with " " to find exact matches.
Community Foundation Services
Publication Date: January, 2018

CNJG’s community foundation services (through the United Philanthropy Forum) breakdown into three categories:
1.   a national listserv for CEOs
2.   two in-person boot camp trainings
3.   discount on the On-Line CF Express Training

National Listserv for Community Foundation CEOs
CNJG’s listserve for Community Foundation CEOs connects to a national listserv for the CEOs of community foundations. This active listserve allows community foundation CEOs to communicate easily via email with community foundation CEOs from across the country, to pose questions, engage in conversations and more.  The service is being made available to our community foundations members as a benefit of your membership with CNJG and is operated by the Untied Philanthropy Forum, which is CNJG’s national network.

If you are interested in participating in this national community foundation listserve, please contact Craig Weinrich.

Community Foundation Boot Camps
The United Philanthropy Forum offers two or more Community Foundation Boot Camps a year that are made available to CNJG members at the member rate as a benefit of CNJG membership. The two-day Community Foundation Boot Camp program offers a comprehensive overview of the structure and operations of a community foundation. The program is an ideal in-depth introduction to community foundations for new community foundation staff, community foundation board members, or more experienced community foundation staff looking for a good refresher.

On-Line CF Express Training
The Forum is partnering with Kansas Association of Community Foundations (KACF) to offer a $400 discount on KACF’s On-Line CF Express Training. The online training and certificate program focuses on core essentials over a 15-module series that covers nearly every aspect of community foundation work: from asset development and quality grants programs design to fiduciary and policy matters. Plus, enjoy 24-hour-access to the easy-to-navigate short (5-15 min) modules in any order from the comfort of a home or an office, in private, or as a group training.

Watch the CF Express Training Promo Video and view a sample module (password: mod15) to learn more. To take advantage of the discount, sign-up at https://cfexpresstraining.com and enter discount code: Forum2018. You can also reference the following attachments for more details.
Philanthropy's Role in the 2020 Census

The Council of New Jersey Grantmakers joins the Funders’ Committee for Civic Participation’s Funders Census Initiative, the United Philanthropy Forum, and philanthropy-serving organizations around the country in asking our members to commit to supporting and encouraging a fair and accurate census.

“Census Day,” April 1, 2020, is here and the time to act is now.

More than $800 billion annually in federal assistance to states, localities and families is distributed based on census data; yet historically, the census has missed disproportionate numbers of people of color, young children and the rural and urban poor, leading to inequality in political power and inaccessibility to public funding and private investment for these communities. Going into 2020, additional communities, including immigrants, refugees, unmarried women and the LGBTQ community are at risk of being missed.

Of that $800 billion, $17.56 billion distributed to our state is based on census data. Furthermore, in the 2010 census, return rates for New Jersey’s cities were very low: 55% in Newark, 50% in Irvington, 55% in Orange, 55% in Atlantic City, 56% in New Brunswick, 59% in Trenton, 60% in Paterson, and 61% in Camden. These communities are among those labeled Hard-to-Count (HTC). Being hard-to-count can lead to unequal political representation and unequal access to vital public and private resources for these groups and their communities. Our state has so much at stake, and we need to ensure a full, fair and accurate census. Without accurate census data, the communities you care about could see less investment in their vital public and private resources.

The Fund for New Jersey has created a website, which includes interactive maps to find Hard to Count areas, resources, and news. The Fund reminds us that almost everything we know about our communities comes from information collected during the census and its related surveys. Read The Fund for New Jersey’s policy paper, Toward a Fair and Accurate Census 2020 and a Timeline for Philanthropy, and download their checklist for outlining a number of ways philanthropy can support Census 2020.

The 2020 Census is facing unprecedented challenges, including years of underfunding, a climate of fear, and the challenges of the first “high tech” census.

Ways to Help

  1. Review the Funder Menu of Options created in partnership by United Philanthropy Forum and the Funders Census Initiative (FCI 2020) to help funders identify what they can to do.
  2. Join the Funders Census Initiative Working Group. As a working group member, you’ll have access to the core listserv for funders to connect on their work at the national, state and local levels. There is no cost, and you don’t need to be a FCCP member to join.
  3. Sign up to get ongoing updates from the Census Bureau, including America Counts: Stories Behind the Numbers, the latest news, Tip sheets, and Stats for Stories. You can also partner with our Census Regional Office.
  4. Talk to your grantees about the importance of a full and accurate 2020 Census, and what it means for their community and their work. Encourage them to get involved by sending them this message, and sharing this write up for use in their e-communications.
  5. Advocate for a fair and accurate census, and for the resources to support a complete count in your community and statewide.
  6. Share information on your website; via mailings, e-blasts and social media; and at your board and staff meetings to inform people why the census matters to your community and your grantees.
  7. Join the Census 2020 NJ Coalition, a statewide outreach and awareness campaign to coordinate nonprofit and community-based efforts to ensure an accurate 2020 Census count in New Jersey. The Coalition is working together with the State of New Jersey Complete Count Commission and the U.S. Census Bureau to make sure the public has clear, accurate information about the importance of the upcoming Census.
  8. Keep the Council of New Jersey Grantmakers up to date on what you are doing. Please contact Theresa Jacks, Deputy Director for more information.  

It is difficult to overstate the importance of a fair census count. When census information is not accurate, it threatens to muffle the voices of undercounted groups and regions, and undermine the basic political equality that is central to our democracy. Institutions across the country, including local and state governments, businesses, nonprofits and foundations, routinely rely on data from the census to allocate funding, define where services are delivered, and promote economic development. Thank you for your commitment to making sure that everyone counts!

Websites to Visit

  • The Census Project
    A broad-based network of national, state, and local organizations that supports a fair and accurate 2020 Census and comprehensive American Community Survey (ACS — the modern version of the census “long form”). Participating stakeholders represent a diverse range of American sectors that rely on objective data for decision-making and promote civic engagement: business and industry; civil rights advocates; state and local governments; social service agencies; researchers and scientific associations; planners; foundations; and nonprofits focused on housing, child and family welfare, education, transportation, and other vital services.
  • Funders Census Initiative
    A project of the Funders Committee for Civic Participation, a philanthropy-serving organization spearheading Census-related work and information for funders.
  • United Philanthropy Forum
    The largest network serving philanthropy in America, consisting of regional and national philanthropy-serving organizations (PSOs). Through the Census 2020 Project, the Forum is working with members to mobilize regional funders to advocate for policy improvements for the 2020 census, and to raise awareness and understanding of the importance of a fair and accurate census count to philanthropy. CNJG is a member of the Forum.
  • United States Census Bureau
    The Bureau's mission is to serve as the leading source of quality data about the nation's people and economy and is the federal government’s largest statistical agency. The Decennial Census is the once-a-decade population and housing count of all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Island Areas as required by the U.S. Constitution. The results of the decennial census determine the number of seats for each state in the U.S. House of Representatives and are used to draw congressional and state legislative districts and to distribute more than $675 billion in federal funds each year.
  • NJ Department of Labor and Workforce Development
    NJ's governmental department that works with the Census Bureau to conduct the census in New Jersey.
  • Advocates for Children of New Jersey – Census 2020 NJ
  • The Leadership Conference on Civil & Human Rights – 2020 Census

Resources to Use

Webinars to Watch

Articles to Read
Case Studies
... , is a community of funders and nonprofits taking action against the power imbalances and racial inequities in ...
Funder Briefing: Lead by Example: Equitably Addressing Toxic Lead Issues
... where it will go. New Jersey Lead Poisoning Prevention Action Plan Jersey Water Works Lead in Drinking Water Task ...
Event Type: Funder Briefing
Audience: All Funders
Funding Area: Community Improvement/DevelopmentEnvironment
New Jersey Principles for Philanthropy

Adopted by the CNJG Board of Trustees October 20, 2023

Each principle begins with a common understanding followed by developmental steps for members beginning to look at these principles as well as the aspiration for each principle. These principles are intended to promote continuous learning, vulnerability, and reflection for how philanthropy can evolve from its historical roots to a more trusting, accountable, and equitable model.

The principles include:
1. Ethical Leadership
2. Stewardship
3. Values
4. Equity & Justice
5. Community Engagement
6. Public Voice
7. Continuous Learning
8. Transparency & Accountability

1. Ethical Leadership

Understand:
We believe that ethical leadership is required to build and maintain community trust in philanthropy. This is achieved through adherence to laws, good governance and community- informed decision-making.

Begin:
We serve our partners and communities in a way that engenders trust. We adhere to all applicable laws and take seriously our fiduciary duties. In order to maintain trust, we seek to continuously improve our governance, decision-making processes and organizational culture.

Aspire:
We actively engage the community in our governance and decision-making, balancing donor intent and community need. We strengthen community trust by including new and diverse voices on our governing bodies and decision-making teams.

2. Stewardship

Understand:
As philanthropic entities established for charitable purposes, we operate with a privileged tax status. We recognize that, in addition to money, foundation assets include investments, relationships, human resources, connections and networks, knowledge and expertise, and stature.

Begin:
We recognize our roles as funders, employers, economic entities and community members. Through each of these roles, we use the wide range of assets held by philanthropy to create positive benefits and impact with our communities.

Aspire:
We use all of our assets to build equity and strengthen communities, as defined by the communities, themselves. We use all available tools such as values-based investing, impact investing and giving beyond any minimum requirements, to generate community benefits.

3. Values

Understand:
Having clear and transparent goals, missions and values allows us to be purposeful in philanthropy and facilitates accountability with communities and stakeholders.

Begin:
Our missions and goals are clearly stated and are transparent to the community. We hold ourselves accountable to them. We periodically examine our missions and goals for relevance, impact and alignment to our values.

Aspire:
We seek to understand and incorporate the values of our stakeholders and the communities we serve into our missions, values and goals. The community participates in examining our mission, values and goals for relevance, and holds us accountable to them.

4. Equity & Justice

Understand:
We recognize two truths. Philanthropy is created to promote the welfare of others. Our commitment to equity requires us to dismantle disparities in access to power, money and resources. At the same time, philanthropy is a system that is built on historical structural inequities and systemic racism. These inequities create a resource gap and power differential between philanthropy and the community.

Begin:
We are in a unique position to promote equity and justice. We seek to understand how intersectional inequities and racism manifest in our philanthropy and our communities. We work to become anti-racist individuals and organizations. In order to advance equity and justice, we listen to the community, honor their story and rely on their lived experience to inform our grantmaking.

Aspire:
We acknowledge our privilege in resources and resulting power. We commit to increase power sharing with our community, especially with communities that have been historically marginalized. We believe in trust and shared power in decision-making, which increases community access to philanthropic resources. This increases equity and makes progress toward dismantling racism and eliminating systemic inequities.

5. Community Engagement

Understand:
Philanthropy works best when it builds long-term community relationships rather than focusing on short-term transactions. Positive impacts increase when we hold mutually respectful, direct relationships with the community. As a result of community engagement, philanthropic efforts become more relevant and donors/grantors more accountable to our community.

Begin:
We listen to the desires of the community and we interact with the community in culturally appropriate, meaningful and respectful ways. We engage in continual and reciprocal listening and learning, cultural curiosity and humility. In our relationships, we respect the community’s time and resources and strive to give more than we receive.

Aspire:
We take time to understand our relationships with the community, align our aspirations and actions, and adjust our work, as needed. We solicit community critique and feedback. We strengthen our grantmaking through power sharing, joint decision-making and funding of solutions defined and led by the community.

6. Public Voice

Understand:
Philanthropic organizations and individual donors enjoy power and influence that we must use responsibly, both individually and collectively, for the greater good. Our public voice augments our grantmaking to demonstrate partnership in communities and to advance our goals.

Begin:
We form our public voice by listening humbly to those with lived experience on issues we seek to influence. We use our collective voice to share knowledge, educate ourselves and others, and impact change on issues that advance equity and strengthen our community.

Aspire:
We amplify the voice of communities that have been historically marginalized. We use our collective voice to impact change in public policy and public opinion on issues important to our communities. We use our resources to amplify community voices and support grassroots organizing and advocacy.

7. Continuous Learning

Understand:
We have unprecedented access to information from local and global sources including science, research and community networks. Our communities offer rich information about the human impact of policies and resource distribution. We are obligated to use various information sources to actively learn and strengthen our practice and allow for vulnerability and openness to the evolution of our work.

Begin:
We are curious about our work and engage in activities that help us to consider new viewpoints and address individual biases. Through a range of learning activities including research, self-assessment, evaluation, professional development and community engagement processes we seek and use information that improves our grantmaking and expands our understanding of the community.

Aspire:
With the community, we engage in ongoing learning and jointly define funding priorities. We respect many cultural ways of learning and knowing and work to achieve individual and organizational cultural competency. We promote continuous learning with our teams and alongside our grantee partners. We improve our work by offering and using peer feedback and being open and vulnerable in the process.

8. Transparency & Accountability

Understand:
Transparency builds trust and strengthens our accountability to the community. By being transparent, we are accountable to our mission, values and goals.

Begin:
We exhibit transparency by being clear, consistent and timely in our communications, decisions and commitments. We share information publicly in order to meet regulatory requirements and uphold community expectations, in the context of our missions. We demonstrate accountability by learning from community feedback and critique.

Aspire:
We consider state and federal regulatory requirements to be the minimum standard of transparency. We excel at transparency and accountability by engaging the community in decision-making and external evaluation of our work
Summer Reading List

It’s summer – and that means summer reading! Whether you’re reading at home or in the coffee shop, at the beach, or while traveling by train or airplane, I'm thrilled to share a collection of summer reading recommendations from CNJG’s Board of Trustees and staff. While some recommendations speak directly to philanthropy and the social sector, others explore leadership, civic engagement, economics, and personal growth, all offering insights and ideas to excite our curiosity and inspire us.

Board Chair Craig Drinkard has been re-reading the timeless classic Good to Great by Jim Collins. Craig shared that so much more is resonating this time around as he re-reads it. The first time he read the book, the theory is what stood out; this time it’s deeper, more strategic, and thought provoking, with fresh insights gained during this second look. This book is worth a read for everyone dedicated to leadership and organizational improvement.

First Vice Chair, Justin Kiczek continues to be inspired by our recent convening, 2025 Conference for the Social Sector - Stronger Together: Philanthropy & Civic Engagementand recommends Habits of Heart and Mind: How to Fortify Civic Culture from Our Common Purpose - a publication he says has been a "continued source of wisdom and good ideas" and passes on to pretty much anyone he knows! He also follows two Substack columns focused on civic culture and renewal: Daniel Stid’s The Art of Association and Gabe Lerner’s Democracy Notes.

Treasurer Catherine Wilson has been diving into a diverse reading list including Autocracy, Inc.by Anne Applebaum, The Art of More: How Mathematics Created Civilization by Michael Brooks, and The Heat Will Kill You First: Life and Death on a Scorched Planet by Jeff Goodell.

Also from our board members:
 
Paul DiLorenzo is catching up on his back-dated New Yorker magazines and especially loved a story called Amelia Earhart’s Reckless Final Flights.
 
Maisha Simmons recommends checking out this insightful blog post: The Challenge and Opportunity for Funder and Nonprofit Listening Right Now.
 
Tammy Rice Herman has been reading the weekly blog, "Better Allies" where author Karen Catlin shares five simple actions each week to create a more inclusive and engaging workplace. You can sign up here to receive the blog every Friday.
 
Margarethe Laurenzi recommends listening to Ann Patchett at Parnassus Books talk about all the great books being written that serve as a rebuttal to the idea that literary fiction has lost its way.
 
Jasmyne Beckford has been enjoying reading Choosing Purposeful Alignment: The Messy Middle of Transformation. The book really speaks to her, “because it’s all about how growth happens in that uncertain, messy middle where you have to keep choosing what aligns with your values.”

Lucy Vandenberg’s summer reading and all year round includes her “daily devouring of The New York Times and NJ Spotlight!”
 
The CNJG team has a few reading recommendations for you too!

Senior Director, Member Experience, Craig Weinrich recommends Doughnut Economics by Kate Raworth, who argues that GDP should no longer be the sole indicator for a nation’s (and the world’s) economic health. Measuring something as complex as an economy needs an updated tool – thus the doughnut model that includes social and ecological benefits and harms, resulting from economic activity.
 
Manager of Programs and Learning, Chanika Svetvilas is currently reading Systemic: How Racism Is Making Us Sick by Layla Liverpool. She notes Liverpool's observation that “Racism is an insidious threat to our health precisely because it is so easily overlooked or, in some cases, perhaps willfully ignored.”
 
Manager of Communications Shakirat Odunsi picked up two books at United Philanthropy Forum’s UnConference last month: Future Good: How to Use Futurism to Save the Worldby Trista Harris and A New Era of Philanthropy by Dimple Abichandani. These picks reflect her interest in how our sector can evolve and adapt. Harris's work explores how futurist thinking can be applied to social change, while Abichandani's book examines the transformation happening in philanthropic practices and approaches. Both seem perfectly timed for those of us thinking about where philanthropy is headed next. 

For my own summer reading, I've been reassured by reading Who is Government? The Untold Story of Public Service edited by Michael Lewis – the stories of the real women and men working in the public sector without bravado and bluster. These are the civil servants that oversee our veterans’ cemeteries, explore our universe, hunt down cyber criminals and preserve our archives. These unsung heroes do the daily, unseen, yet necessary work of the people. “Although they often go unnoticed, public servants are the heartbeat of our nation.”
 
I also recently read, Meditations for Mortals - Four Weeks to Embrace Your Limitations and Make Time for What Counts by Oliver Burkeman. I plan on re-reading it so I can gain some deeper insights during my upcoming sabbatical.
 
Yes – that’s correct - I will be on sabbatical beginning Monday, August 11, and will return to the office on Tuesday, October 14! I started my journey at CNJG in May 2008. I’m grateful to the CNJG Board of Trustees for giving me this opportunity, and grateful to an incredibly dedicated and competent team that will ensure work of the Council continues during my absence! Thank you!
 
Special thanks to Craig Weinrich, who will be the senior executive in charge, while I am on sabbatical. Please feel free to reach out to Office Manager Dana Schwartz, as well, at [email protected].
 
I'm struck by the breadth and depth of what our community is reading, from civic engagement and economic models to health equity and the future of philanthropy. These recommendations reflect the commitment to continuous and shared learning that makes our CNJG community so special. I’m looking forward to exploring some of these recommendations during my time away. And in case you missed it, the annual CNJG 2024 President's Report also celebrates what makes our CNJG community so special!

With appreciation,

Theresa Jacks, President and CEO
Council of New Jersey Grantmakers
State and National COVID-19 News Articles
... for Nonprofits in Need Vary Widely 3/17 - Strategy & Action Philanthropy: 5 Things Funders Can Do Right Now to ...
Member Benefits
... at your organization. DoingGoodBetterLogo.png Take action to decrease the power imbalance between philanthropy ...
A Snapshot of Promising DEI Practices Among Indiana Foundations
Publication Date: December, 2014

As a follow-up to our Giving in Indiana study (released earlier this year), Indiana Philanthropy Alliance is pleased to share this snapshot of promising practices for advancing diversity, equity and inclusion in Indiana philanthropy. Throughout our state, foundations are incorporating the values of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) into their organizational cultures; engaging diverse populations as staff, board members, donors, and grantees; and working to make their communities more welcoming places. This report is an effort to capture a sampling of these endeavors.
Resource Type: Research
Topic: About PhilanthropyDiversity, Equity, and InclusionGrantmaking
Balancing Speed, Equity, and Impact during a Crisis
Publication Date: October, 2020

The COVID-19 public health and economic crisis has changed our world as we know it. As employers moved to remote work, schools shifted to distance learning, and businesses closed completely, it became clear that the impact on residents, nonprofits, and businesses was far greater than anyone could have ever imagined.

In response to the growing and evolving needs of our region, the Greater Washington Community Foundation established the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund to raise and rapidly deploy funding to local nonprofits providing food, shelter, educational supports, and other critical services.

From the beginning our goal was clear: to address the immediate needs and reach adversely affected communities, particularly low-income households and communities of color. We know all too well that in a crisis like this, these marginalized communities are hit the hardest, and often take the longest to recover.

In times of crises, The Community Foundation is our region’s philanthropic first responder, bringing together individuals and families, philanthropic peers, corporate partners, and local government advisors to address community issues. Building on our rich history of emergency response work, we grounded our COVID-19 response efforts in a similar coordinated approach.

This report chronicles the steps taken, under immense pressure, to develop a coordinated emergency response effort to support a broad range of needs across the region. Once again this effort has demonstrated that working in partnership and close collaboration with our philanthropic peers and local government advisors is an effective way to manage a response to both urgent and longer-term needs.
Resource Type: Research
Audience: All Funders
Topic: COVID-19Grantmaking
The Essentials for Collaboration between Foundations and Government
Publication Date: June, 2010
Resource Type: Report
Topic: GovernanceStrategy & Collaboration
Become a Member
... the benefits of CNJG membership under our Member Benefits page . The membership period begins January 1st and runs ...
COVID-19 Corporate Volunteering Resource Guide
Publication Date: July, 2020

This resource guide includes various virtual volunteer opportunities, additional resources, and best practices for corporate volunteer programs during the coronavirus pandemic. 

This resource will be updated, as CNJG and corporate members collect new information and opportunities to share with colleagues.
Resource Type: CNJG Documents/Reports
Audience: Corporate Giving
Topic: Corporate Philanthropy/CSRCOVID-19
Strategic Asset Allocation in a Multi-Factor World
Publication Date: November, 2012

Strategic asset allocation is arguably one of the most important, yet least advanced, aspects of investing. The Investment Strategy Group (ISG) in the Goldman Sachs Investment Management Division has developed a new approach to strategic asset allocation, which leverages the idea that long-term investment returns derive from multiple distinct sources called “return-generating factors.” This multi-factor approach is designed to help investors better understand the key sources of long-term return across asset classes and to increase the precision of long-term risk and return estimates. It also provides investors with a new way to think about portfolio diversification, allowing them to focus not only on diversification across asset classes but also
on diversification across the underlying sources of return.
Resource Type: Report
Audience: Executive Staff
Topic: Finance
2016 Annual Meeting Resources on Racial Equity
Publication Date: December, 2016

These resources are from CNJG's 2016 Annual Meeting & Holiday Luncheon where the topic of shifting demographics was explored. Research by the Pew Research Center shows that New Jersey, and the nation, is experiencing the most striking social, racial, economic, and demographic shifts that have not been seen in more than a century. Funders will need to address the new challenges this “next America” will face, including an increasing aging population, greater racial tapestry, the influence of religion and technology, and more.
Resource Type: PresentationResource Guide
Audience: All Funders
Topic: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Conference and Colloquium Storify
Publication Date: June, 2017

CNJG's Storify content from their Signature Events.
Resource Type: CNJG Documents/Reports

Pages